The Conscious Lovers

“The Conscious Lovers: a Comedy in Five Acts,” (1722) by Irish journalist, editor, and playwright Richard Steele follows an impoverished but courageous young woman who ends up with the man she loves, even as she is accused of being a prostitute. Steele was interested in using traditional comedic forms to instruct young people on proper moral conducts. The play was the last he completed and by far his most successful. It is a major work of what is called “The Age of Sentimentality,” (1700-1790) and was one of the most produced works during this period.

Its themes include the rewards of obeying one’s parents, the importance of virtuous behavior, the nobility of the working class, and the legitimacy of social structures like marriage.

From the preface, Steel states that he wants to “Chasten wit, and moralize the stage.” The play opens in the house of Sir John Bevil, a well-respected and wealthy businessperson. His son, the junior Bevil, a young gentleman of some fortune, is talking with Humphrey (abbreviated as Humph). Bevil is engaged to Lucinda Sealand; however, he is really in love with Indiana Danvers. But at the request of the intimidating Mr. Sealand, as well as his own father Sir John Bevil (whom he respects to the end), he plans to go through with the marriage. The young Bevil would rather endure a lifetime of unhappiness than disappoint his father.



But when Lucinda hears that young Bevil has been paying the upkeep for Indiana, some woman he met in France, Lucinda wants nothing to do with him. Indiana doesn’t have the most noble lineage either; she’s the daughter of an English merchant who mysteriously vanished on a trip to the East Indies.

Lucinda refuses to marry any man who would keep another woman on the side. But it’s also clear that Lucinda is really in love with Mr. Myrtle (young Bevil’s good friend), and she may be looking for any reason to stop the marriage with young Bevil. Bevil, in an act of generosity, writes to her that she can divorce him at any point in the future, but that they should be married to please their parents for a little while.

Lucinda reveals her suspicion that Bevil is keeping a mistress. She shows the letter he wrote to her as proof of his disloyalty. Her father, Mr. Sealand, is outraged, and goes on a surveillance mission to discover if young Bevil is really paying for a woman. He agrees to break off the agreement.



Lucinda then takes another suitor, Mr. Cimberton, the wealthy aristocrat but extremely odd man who thinks of women like hunting trophies. The simple-minded Mrs. Sealand is okay with the marriage, but Lucinda Sealand isn’t too thrilled about the prospect of Mr. Cimberton.

Back at the Bevil house, some servants of the young Bevil, Tom and Philis, offer the image of people with less moral fiber than Indiana, though they have the same good heart as most of the characters in “The Conscious Lovers.” Upon hearing that the possible marriage between Lucinda Sealand and the odd Mr. Cimberton will go through, Tom and Mr. Myrtle decide to dress up as lawyers and somehow prevent the marriage license from being signed.

Indiana maintains a residency in the heart of London, Charing Crossing. She lives with her kind but perpetually anxious aunt. The aunt reiterates her concern about Bevil: unless he plans on marrying her down the road, it appears very unsound for him to be paying for all her food and rent. People, the aunt suggests, will think that Indiana is a prostitute. Indiana passionately argues that the two don’t have that kind of arrangement, and in the middle of this dispute Bevil junior appears at their house.



The aunt exits to let the two talk in private. Indiana asks him why he keeps paying for all her bills. He claims that he does it because it makes him feel good: he refuses to elaborate. Indiana can’t help but be wounded by this. She thought the two of them would have a good relationship in the future (despite him being engaged to Lucinda). But the young Bevil, thinking of his moral obligations, refuses to reveal his love.

Meanwhile, Mr. Cimberton discovers that his future bride will only inherit 50 percent of her father’s fortune. This is unacceptable with his social climbing nature, and he abruptly breaks the engagement. Those who work to create their own fortune, then (or “new money”), are the heroes of “The Conscious Lovers.”

Mr. Myrtle and the young Bevil have a misunderstanding. They threaten each other with a duel. They end up not going through with it, and Steele praises the decision of both men to back down from senseless mutual murder.



Through a humorous incident involving a lost bracelet, Mr. Sealand realizes that Indiana is his estranged daughter. Everyone rejoices. He agrees that Bevil and Indiana would be a great match.

Mr. Cimberton is shown to be a rascal. Mrs. Sealand is relieved that he won’t be marrying her daughter. Mr. Sealand pairs his daughter up with Mr. Myrtle, a coupling that both young people desired. Indiana and the young Bevil will also be happily wedded. Thus, everyone with good moral behavior is rewarded.